executive order

noun

: regulation sense 2b

Examples of executive order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite morale-sapping staff layoffs, bizarre executive orders and a 43-day federal government shutdown last fall, the grandeur and serenity of national parks in California remain irresistible to outdoors lovers looking to unwind. —Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order Friday establishing the first-ever Mayor's Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, fulfilling a campaign promise. —Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026

But the glyphosate executive order has changed things for her and her cohorts. —Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026

According to Barrett, this executive order will override Connecticut laws. —Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for executive order

• boarder
• border
• corder
• warder
• camcorder
• disorder
• recorder
• reorder
• suborder
• transborder

Legal Definition

executive order

noun

: an order issued by a government's executive on the basis of authority specifically granted to the executive branch (as by the U.S. Constitution or a congressional act)

the National Security Agency was created by an executive order

compare proclamation, statute

Note: An executive order from the president does not have the force of law until it is printed in the Federal Register.